OSHA Insights Blog
OSHA to Conduct Comprehensive Wall-to-Wall Inspections in Animal Slaughtering and Processing Industry
OSHA has announced a significant expansion of its inspection practices for the Animal Slaughtering and Processing industry. This change comes as a result of the industry’s higher-than-average days away, restricted, or transfer (DART) rate, according to Bureau of Labor...
OSHA’s New Severe Injury Report Dashboard: Implications for Employers
On September 4, 2024, OSHA introduced an online tool, the Severe Injury Report Dashboard. Severe injuries, as defined by OSHA, include any in-patient hospitalizations, amputations, or loss of an eye. The dashboard enables detailed searches of reported severe injuries...
Understanding OSHA’s Proposed “Heat Rule”
OSHA recently issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to address how heat-related hazards are managed in both outdoor and indoor work settings. In its release, OSHA notes that heat is the leading cause of weather-related fatalities in the United States. What Employers...
Proposed OSHA Standard Targets Heat Hazards
After years and years of trying, OSHA has finally introduced a proposed rule/standard aimed at mitigating heat-related risks in the workplace. Pursuant to the rule, employers in all industries are required to develop injury and illness prevention plans for heat...
Stay Informed on OSHA’s Updated Hazard Communication Standard
OSHA has announced a final rule updating its Hazard Communication Standard (again), effective July 19, 2024. Here is a breakdown of what businesses need to know: Changes in the Updated Hazard Communication Standard 1) Comprehensive Labeling on Small Packaging Labels...
OSHA’s New Emphasis on the Southern States
OSHA recently announced its plans to restructure its regional operations and establish a new regional office in Birmingham, with the intention of establishing a stronghold in states like Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Florida....
Navigating OSHA’s Enhanced Heat-Related Oversight
As we move into the warmer months, it is crucial for businesses to be aware of OSHA’s focus on heat-related workplace issues and its continued effort to adopt specific OSHA standards relating to heat—which currently do not exist. These efforts are part of the agency's...
Understanding The Risks of OSHA’s 2023 Public Data Disclosure
On April 18, 2024, OSHA released its injury and illness data from 2023 that it gathered under its “Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses” regulation published July 2023. This regulation exposes businesses to new risks, with OSHA relying on the data to...
OSHA’s “New” Rule on Employee Representation: A Gateway for Outside Access
The Department of Labor announced a “new” rule expressly allowing employees to authorize any representative--including union representatives and outside attorneys, amongst others--to represent them and accompany OSHA officers during OSHA inspections. This rule, set to...
US Department of Labor Announces Annual Adjustments to OSHA Civil Penalties for 2024
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced the annual increases to their fine schedule for 2024. These changes took effect on January 16th, 2024. The increases follow the 2015 Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act to...